Please note: we have been online over ten years, and we want The Trek BBS to continue as a free site. But if you block our ads we are at risk.Please consider unblocking ads for this site - every ad you view counts and helps us pay for the bandwidth that you are using. Thank you for your understanding.

Welcome! The Trek BBS is the number one place to chat about Star Trek with like-minded fans. Please login to see our full range of forums as well as the ability to send and receive private messages, track your favourite topics and of course join in the discussions.

If you are a new visitor, join us for free. If you are an existing member please login below. Note: for members who joined under our old messageboard system, please login with your display name not your login name.

It’s the product of the best parts of Star Trek, Star Wars, Battlestar Galactica and more with a protagonist who could be the love-child of Picard, Skywalker, and Starbuck. It’s one of the most important pieces of science fiction narrative of our generation. Mass Effect goes so far beyond other fictional universes in ways that you may not have yet realized.

As a vessel for an epic science fiction narrative, the medium of action-adventure game affords three immediate advantages – setting, casting, and emotional involvement.

Mass Effect 3 continues along this path and gives the option to divide the game into three distinct modes: action mode removes dialogue choices, story mode features extremely easy combat and an emphasis on narrative, and role playing game (RPG) mode plays more like previous Mass Effect titles, mixing elements of the game’s previous two modes.

Re: Is 'Mass Effect' "The Most Impt. Sci-Fi Universe of Our Generation

The best science fiction is usually a part of a world that we can imagine existing even after the well-known stories have been told (case in point, Star Trek). The fact that Mass Effect's universe is so well-realized will be one of its strengths after the main story in the games draws to a close. I've heard complaints that it's 'too space opera' and the main species are 'too human' - in appearance and culture - to have a major, thought-provoking impact in science fiction, but frankly so few properties are willing to go the extra distance to make their worlds feel alive that Mass Effect gets props from me for being one of the properties that does. In fact, interactive media is uniquely suited to provide this kind of experience and I look forward to seeing future attempts.

I agree, though, that it probably won't carry on in the same way that iconic TV and film properties currently do. Mass Effect may be well-known by science fiction fans and people who play games, but in the end, EA/Bioware will have to care enough about what they have created to bring it into better view and understanding of the mainstream. I think this can be done, especially if they strengthen their trans-media efforts (books, comics, possible movies, and of course games) in the wake of ME3. It's all business though - the fans have to want more, and it has to be worth it for them to extend the franchise and give that universe a chance at being the most important in recent sci-fi and entertainment.

Re: Is 'Mass Effect' "The Most Impt. Sci-Fi Universe of Our Generation

Honestly, the backstory is pretty impressive, but for me, the gameplay left a lot to be desired. I almost feel that this game would have been better as a point-and-click adventure game, a genre suitable for narrative heavy games. It is some impressive world building though. I think that this series could do as well as a TV series as a game.

Re: Is 'Mass Effect' "The Most Impt. Sci-Fi Universe of Our Generation

mclea1mm wrote:

I've heard complaints that it's 'too space opera' and the main species are 'too human' - in appearance and culture - to have a major, thought-provoking impact in science fiction

Right, because Vulcans, Klingons, Bajorans, Betazoids, Romulans, etc. look nothing like humans and their cultures have no basis in any human cultures in history. That's possibly one of the dumbest arguments I've ever heard.

The Mass Effect universe is an incredibly rich one ripe for development. There's plenty of potential for excellent stories beyond Commander Shepard's. The books are a good step in that direction, but what it really needs to "become the next Star Trek" is to move into wider mediums. Sadly, video games are not that medium right now. Far too many people still think of them as "children's toys." A film or television show set in the Mass Effect universe (done well, of course) is probably what could bring it into the mainstream. In fact, the best bet would be to not even include Shepard or any of the game characters. Keep them to the games. Use the other media as an opportunity to expand the universe, and build the brand.

Re: Is 'Mass Effect' "The Most Impt. Sci-Fi Universe of Our Generation

OdoWanKenobi wrote:

A film or television show set in the Mass Effect universe (done well, of course) is probably what could bring it into the mainstream. In fact, the best bet would be to not even include Shepard or any of the game characters. Keep them to the games. Use the other media as an opportunity to expand the universe, and build the brand.

Agreed. Done that way, they don't have to rely on people already knowing or having played the games. Rather, they can focus on developing their world even further, without distractions for anyone who aren't already familiar with the series, but that the TV series could eventually offer some plot threads for future games based on what's seen on TV.

Re: Is 'Mass Effect' "The Most Impt. Sci-Fi Universe of Our Generation

I should have added to my post that while I think it is among the others I mentioned, it isn't the "most important franchise" of our generation. It is a popular video game franchise. That's about it, and I would also agree that a well done film adaptation would go along way of increasing its profile among the mainstream. They couldn't get the Halo film off the ground though so I don't know if they would be able to do so with "Mass Effect". Isn't there a film in development right now?

Re: Is 'Mass Effect' "The Most Impt. Sci-Fi Universe of Our Generation

Dunno about Halo, and I haven't played any of them, but it's always come across to me as a series that doesn't have much story, much the same way as Doom. You have the backstory, but not much else to draw on, whereas Mass Effect's world is more along the likes of Star Trek, Star Wars and B5, so I suspect it'd be far easier to make a movie in Mass Effect's universe than say something like Halo and that might be why they're having a tough time getting a movie off the ground.

Re: Is 'Mass Effect' "The Most Impt. Sci-Fi Universe of Our Generation

Ask anyone on the street if they've heard the phrase "..where no man has gone before." or "May the force be with you". 9/10 times you'll see a yes. Ask someone if they know Commander Sheppard. They'll give a blank stare.